Two full debutants in starting XV as Team Bath head to champions Durham for latest BUCS Super Rugby challenge
A trip to defending champions Durham provides the latest big test for BUCS Super Rugby high-fliers Team Bath on Wednesday (6.30pm kick-off).
The Bath Building Society-sponsored men’s 1st XV make the long journey north on the back of four successive league wins, which has put them joint top with Exeter.
Durham have moved up to fourth after their own good run of form and will be fired up by their 40-13 defeat to Team Bath in the Anniversary Game at The Rec in October’s reverse fixture.
With many players on club and U20 Six Nations duty, Team Bath once again show the depth of their squad by making several changes to the XV that started last week’s win at Cardiff Met.
Co-captain Tom Williams returns to the pack along with hooker Duncan Hood and fellow flanker George Doel, while lock Will Jeanes makes his first BUCS Super Rugby start. Austin Emins is another debutant at centre, with Byron Lloyd-Gilmour moving to full-back and Zach Rodber switching to fly-half.
Team Bath starting XV: 1 Josh Cilia, 2 Duncan Hood, 3 Archie McNicol, 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Mackenzie Graham, 6 George Doel, 7 Tom Williams (c), 8 Harry Breeze; 9 Ellis Horgan, 10 Zach Rodber, 11 James Pavey, 12 Ludo Kolade, 13 Austin Emins, 14 Alfie Garside (c), 15 Byron Lloyd-Gilmour. Replacements: 16 Max Pearce, 17 Claudius Wheeler, 18 Joe Atkins, 19 Harvey Cuckson, 20 Olu Odunlami, 21 Luke Simpson, 22 Archie Friend, 23 Kit Evans.
